After defending Kalayaan execs, Jonvic Remulla meets with China envoy

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla met with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan in Quezon City on Thursday, a day after the former defended the Kalayaan, Palawan local officials whom China had banned from their country.

Asked whether he brought up the ban on Kalayaan officials with the envoy, in a press briefing after their meeting, Remulla said, “We didn’t talk about Kalayaan. We talked more about how to de-escalate the tensions between the two countries and a lot has to do with cultural exchanges.”

“We have many collaborations on law and order, on peace and order. So, that’s what we talked about. But, as far as Kalayaan, we didn’t talk about it,” he added in Filipino.

READ: DILG chief defends Kalayaan local execs who were banned in China

On Jan. 29, the town council of Kalayaan, Palawan passed a resolution declaring the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines as persona non grata, three years after making a similar move to ban the country’s envoy.

Kalayaan sits on the West Philippine Sea and is home to about 400 Filipinos.

In response to the town resolutions banning their envoys, the Chinese government barred the 16 local officials of Kalayaan from entering their country, citing reciprocity.

Remulla defended the officials, saying he planned on visiting Kalayaan and daring China to ban him as well.

Asked when he would make the visit, Remulla told reporters that it would take place sometime next March or April. /mr